celimax Pore+Dark Spot Brightening Pad for oily skin
Niacinamide
Alpha Arbutin
Salicylic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ascorbic AcidAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate suitability for oily skin due to the presence of niacinamide for seboregulation and multiple forms of hyaluronic acid for humectant action, though additional ingredients for enhanced oil control could improve results.
- The product provides excellent brightening and evening of skin tone with niacinamide and arbutin, which are beneficial for improving skin clarity.
- There are no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers find these pads effective for gentle exfoliation and hydration, leading to smoother, more radiant skin. While many appreciate the improvement in overall tone and texture, fading deep dark spots is noted to require consistent long-term use. The pads themselves are frequently praised for their quality and generous essence.
Highlights
Pad quality Mostly Mentioned
- “soft”
- “stretchy”
- “generous amount of essence”
Brightening and radiance Often Mentioned
- “healthy glow”
- “clearer complexion”
Hydration Often Mentioned
- “moisturizing”
- “non-drying”
- “leaves skin fresh”
Texture improvement Often Mentioned
- “smoother skin”
- “refined pores”
- “better makeup application”
Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
- “non-irritating”
- “suitable for sensitive skin”
Slow dark spot results Sometimes Noted
- “didn't see major changes”
- “ineffective for old spots”
Breakouts Rarely Noted
- “tiny bumps”
- “blemishes”
Packaging Rarely Noted
- “doesn't come with tweezers”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “tacky finish”
- “sticky feeling”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, stylekorean.com, oliveyoung.com, stylevana.com, celimax.us, and more
Questions and answers
How well does celimax Pore+Dark Spot Brightening Pad work for oily skin?
This treatment works moderately well for oily skin because it contains Niacinamide to manage oil and lightweight hydrators, though other products fit this skin type better. To achieve better results on oily skin, a product of this type needs additional ingredients for enhanced oil control.
Which ingredients make this pad a good fit for oily skin?
This pad contains niacinamide to help control oil and multiple forms of hyaluronic acid to provide lightweight moisture for oily skin. To fit oily skin even better, treatments of this type need extra ingredients for enhanced oil control like zinc PCA and ferulic acid.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
What does Alpha Arbutin do for oily skin?
Alpha Arbutin helps fade dark spots and even out skin tone while being gentle enough for oily skin. It is unlikely to clog pores or cause extra shine, and regular use may brighten dull areas without adding heaviness.
Where does this pad go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This pad goes in the evening routine as a treatment step once a week, and you can carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well. Oily skin of this type also needs additional ingredients for enhanced oil control to improve results.
Can I use this pad with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this pad in your routine, but to help prevent dryness and irritation, you should use it on alternate nights rather than the same night as your retinol. When combining them in your overall routine, apply this treatment after cleansing and before your moisturizer.
How often should I use this pad?
Start using this treatment pad once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. This product of this type needs additional ingredients for enhanced oil control to achieve better results for oily skin.
Can this pad clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This pad is unlikely to cause breakouts for oily skin since it avoids harsh ingredients, though a product for this skin type needs extra oil-control ingredients to work best.
Is this pad fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Polyvinyl pyrrolidone-K90/Eudragit RL100 dissolving microneedle patches loaded with alpha-arbutin and resveratrol enhanced intradermal delivery by approximately 2.6 times compared to cream and slightly decreased the melanin index in human participants without causing skin irritation.
Biomaterials Science, 2023Aziderm cream, Neostrata Pigment Lightening Gel, and an arbutin 5% formulation significantly reduced skin pigmentation in healthy female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2022Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Why other serums fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Isopentyldiol, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Tranexamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract Grape Fruit Extract, 12-Hexanediol, Sodium Phytate, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract Loquat Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Spearmint Extract, Arbutin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.